im proceed."

"Was he old or young?"

"Middle-aged, and of your height."

"Which way did he take?"

"He turned towards the left as he passed out; I lost sight of him then."

I hurried immediately onward, and entered the wood by the path in the
direction mentioned, my mind painfully excited by what I heard, and
resolved to do everything to probe this matter to the bottom. But,
though I walked miles in every direction, I met none save a few
fagot-gatherers, and they had not seen any one like him I sought for.

With a weary and a heavy heart I turned towards my quarters, all the
happiness of the morning dashed by the strange event I have related.
My night was feverish and disturbed; for a long time I could not sleep,
and, when I did, wild and terrible fancies came on me, and I started up
in terror. A horrible face recurred at every instant to my mind's eye;
and even when awake, the least noise, the slightest rustling of the
leaves in the park, agitated and excited me. At last, worn out with the
painful struggle, between sleep and waking, I arose and dressed.

The day was breaking, and already the birds were carolling to the rising
sun. I strolled out into the park. The fresh and bracing air of morning
cooled my burning brow; the mild influences of the hour, when sweet
perfumes float softly in the dew-loaded breeze, soothed and calmed me;
and I wandered back in thought to her who already had given a charm to
my existence I never knew before.

The long-wished-for dream of my boyhood was realized at last. I knew
the sister of my friend; I sat beside her, and heard her speak to me in
tones so like his own. I was no longer the friendless alien, without one
to care for, one to feel interested in his fortunes. The isolation that
pressed so painfully on me fled before that thought: and now I felt
raised in my own esteem by those dark eyes that thanked me as I spoke of
poor Charles. What a thrill that look sent through my heart! Oh, did
she know the power of that glance! Could she foresee what seeds of high
ambition her every smile was sowing! The round of my duty was to me
devoid of all fatigue, and I returned to my quarters with a light step
and a lighter heart.

The entire day I lingered about the Trianon and near the lake; but Marie
never came, nor did she appear in the walks at all. "Was she ill? Had
the vision, whatever it was, of yesterday, preyed upon her health?" were
my first thoughts, and I inquired eagerly if